GENERAL Q: Linux or Windows

[cynical]

(i hope im posting in the right section here)
I have general question regarding the above.
I am running an old Dell XPS420 as my main PC which only gets used a few times per week
this is currently running Windows 7 (non genuine!) and I am thinking of changing the HD
as it is in there for about 10 years 
I am thinking of switching to Linux Mint with the Mate desktop.
I am also using Electrum, Exodus and Multibit wallets among other dedicated ones for Electroneum for example,
will Linux Mint be a good choice above using W7 again?

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[ranochigo]

In general, Linux distributions should be significantly more secure than Windows. Most blackhat hackers regard Windows as more valuable to exploit and hence many exploits are found there regularly. It doesn't mean Windows isn't secure though. Windows is still secure to a decent extent if you take the proper security precautions (ie. Not running unknown programs, suspicious pages, etc). Together with its usability, it would be better than Linux to me, it depends on your preference however.

If you are using a cracked version of Windows, please use Linux. Cracked version of Windows isn't secure at all.

[LeGaulois]

With a Linux version of Electrum and Multibit you shouldn't have a problem. As for Exodus and the others ones, no idea. But if you can test with a VM maybe?

In general, Linux distributions should be significantly more secure than Windows. Most blackhat hackers regard Windows as more valuable to exploit and hence many exploits are found there regularly. It doesn't mean Windows isn't secure though. Windows is still secure to a decent extent if you take the proper security precautions (ie. Not running unknown programs, suspicious pages, etc). Together with its usability, it would be better than Linux to me, it depends on your preference however.

If you are using a cracked version of Windows, please use Linux. Cracked version of Windows isn't secure at all.

The percentage of Linux users is too low for it to be worth trying to trap users, but it is starting to change, even if GNU Linux is secure, it's more about the behavior/activity of users.

[pooya87]

~
The percentage of Linux users is too low for it to be worth trying to trap users, but it is starting to change, even if GNU Linux is secure, it's more about the behavior/activity of users.

it has been a while since number of Linux users have been huge enough to compete with the number of Windows users. the reason why there are no horrible hack stories involving Linux is that unlike Windows it is open source, so if a vulnerability is found in it, a lot of people can work on it and fix it fast and push it out. with windows you have to wait for Microsoft to fix it and release a windows update that may or may not fix it completely.

[HCP]

I am also using Electrum, Exodus and Multibit wallets among other dedicated ones for Electroneum for example,

With a Linux version of Electrum and Multibit you shouldn't have a problem.

Regardless of what choice you make for your OS... ditch MultiBit as soon as practical. It is old, outdated, full of bugs and no longer being updated or support by the devs: https://multibit.org/blog/2017/07/26/multibit-shutdown.html

At best, you will likely end up generating transactions with super low fees that get stuck.
At worst, you could end up with corrupted backups/wallets that you can't decrypt/open.

[5thFear]

IT depends from task to task. for some tasks, windows is more useful and for some others Linux. that is why i m having my laptop as duel boot. when i need i go for linux and when i need windows, i just simply boot windows.

[cynical]

Great, thanks for all the advice, replies and comments.

Ok its looking like I will opt for Linux.
Security wise it sounds good that it is open source but yes its also about user habits.
I am familiar with Linux Mint as I have it on a laptop but was wondering about the wallets with it.
I dont use the PC for anything demanding on the system, Hence I'm using a 10 year old one and its running fine.

I'll take the advice and phase out MULTIBIT.
Exodus do have a 64bit Linux wallet so all good there, I might download it to the laptop and have a look how it looks and performs.

Regarding the Electrum issue from last 2 weeks with the bug issue, I assume that is solved now and is safe to run with the latest Linux release.

Thanks again.

[HCP]

I'll take the advice and phase out MULTIBIT.
Exodus do have a 64bit Linux wallet so all good there, I might download it to the laptop and have a look how it looks and performs.

Just some things to note about Exodus:

you cannot specify "custom" fees within Exodus (or at least, you couldn't last time I tried, which admittedly was a few months ago). You are stuck with whatever they calculate as a fee. refer: http://support.exodus.io/article/69-how-does-exodus-calculate-fees
Exodus is also "mostly" closed source... refer: http://support.exodus.io/article/89-is-exodus-open-source

Still, it looks pretty, handles multiple assets and has "shapeshift" built-in...

Regarding the Electrum issue from last 2 weeks with the bug issue, I assume that is solved now and is safe to run with the latest Linux release.

Yes, it was (fully) solved about 2 days after the security ramifications of the JSONRPC flaw were publicised. It was patched in the current version (v3.0.5), so use that and you'll be fine.

[cynical]

Thanks for the reply,

yes exodus is indeed very functional and easy to use with dictated fees.
it is extremely versatile with support of multiple assets other than storing them online or multiple wallet downloads.

thanks for the update on electrum.

 

[hugeblack]

(i hope im posting in the right section here)
I have general question regarding the above.
I am running an old Dell XPS420 as my main PC which only gets used a few times per week
this is currently running Windows 7 (non genuine!) and I am thinking of changing the HD
as it is in there for about 10 years 
I am thinking of switching to Linux Mint with the Mate desktop.
I am also using Electrum, Exodus and Multibit wallets among other dedicated ones for Electroneum for example,
will Linux Mint be a good choice above using W7 again?

This depends on the type of device you use.(For general use or only you want to use it for your Bitcoin).
Generally, Bitcoin is good with Linux more than bitcoin. Some wallets like Electrum, Exodus and Multibit wallets will work with Linux more than bitcoin.
I recommend to you maintain your current operating system and boot to Linux through an external hard drive.
using VM Is a bad choice

[signalbitbot]

All for different tasks. I prefer 2 operating systems, conveniently.

[cellard]

It's stupid to use Bitcoin related stuff in Windows, or any other closed source OS period. You are basically trusting that there's not spying code in the closed source code, which defeats the purpose of crypto (don't trust, verify).

Also forget about Ubuntu in old machines, try Xubuntu or Lubuntu if your computer is really old (Lubuntu uses considerably less memory usage). You can even run it in old Pentium machines just fine. It's simple and slick looking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn9PnOuwrnA

[cynical]

(i hope im posting in the right section here)
I have general question regarding the above.
I am running an old Dell XPS420 as my main PC which only gets used a few times per week
this is currently running Windows 7 (non genuine!) and I am thinking of changing the HD
as it is in there for about 10 years 
I am thinking of switching to Linux Mint with the Mate desktop.
I am also using Electrum, Exodus and Multibit wallets among other dedicated ones for Electroneum for example,
will Linux Mint be a good choice above using W7 again?

This depends on the type of device you use.(For general use or only you want to use it for your Bitcoin).
Generally, Bitcoin is good with Linux more than bitcoin. Some wallets like Electrum, Exodus and Multibit wallets will work with Linux more than bitcoin.
I recommend to you maintain your current operating system and boot to Linux through an external hard drive.
using VM Is a bad choice

It's stupid to use Bitcoin related stuff in Windows, or any other closed source OS period. You are basically trusting that there's not spying code in the closed source code, which defeats the purpose of crypto (don't trust, verify).

Also forget about Ubuntu in old machines, try Xubuntu or Lubuntu if your computer is really old (Lubuntu uses considerably less memory usage). You can even run it in old Pentium machines just fine. It's simple and slick looking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn9PnOuwrnA

These sound like viable options.
I haven't progressed on changing over to Linux yet and might seriously consider the 2 systems running side by side as per hugeblack's suggestion.
I haven't done this before so I will have to learn how to set that up, NP.

I dont have an issue with memory and i'm waiting on delivery of some ram upgrade so the above is looking like it is viable.

Thanks for the posts.